1946 Post-war Europe After World War II, western Europe and
America are alarmed by Soviet advances in Eastern Europe. Many
Europeans and Americans believed that the communists were trying to
take over the world! March 1946 - Winston Churchill warns of the
Iron Curtain of Soviet totalitarianism. Winston Churchill at
Fulton
Slide 3
The Cold War It was the global competition between the
democratic United States and the communist Soviet Union and their
supporters. The beginnings of the Cold War are found in Occupied
Germany. The Soviets disagreed with the British, French, and
Americans about the governing of Germany after World War II.
Slide 4
Berlin
Slide 5
The Cold War Why was it so dangerous? because by 1950 both
sides had nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons use atomic reactions to
release enormous power and can cause mass destruction.
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
Where did it begin? in Europe October 24, 1948 The term Cold
War is coined by Bernard M. Baruch in a speech to the Senate War
Investigating Committee. Although the war is over, we are in the
midst of a cold war which is getting warmer. Why was it a cold war?
countries never mobilized armies in an official war The Cold
War
Slide 9
Slide 10
1948 The Marshall Plan What was it? a plan to rebuild Europe
after World War II using loans What were the goals? rebuild Europe
stop the spread of communism Under the Marshall Plan factories were
rebuilt mines were reopened roads were repaired and replaced George
Marshall
Slide 11
Slide 12
Would the Marshall Plan help or hurt the Soviets?
Slide 13
1948 The Truman Doctrine a policy of containment of communist
incursions into other countries It was an important part of
American foreign policy for the next 40 years. Basically not
letting communism spread!
Slide 14
Slide 15
1949 - NATO What is it? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
What was the point? to respond to possible attacks by the Soviet
Union WHY? Each nation in NATO believed the Soviet Union would not
attack western Europe if the U.S. would launch nuclear war in
return. This is known as deterrence; it is designed to deter or
discourage an attack.
Slide 16
Slide 17
Slide 18
1955 Warsaw Pact What is it? an alliance of the Soviet Union
and its communist satellite nations Why was it formed? to counter
NATO an anti-Western military alliance Why Warsaw? Warsaw, Poland
was the city where the treaty was signed Satellite nation? Is that
like satellite TV? Satellite nations are nations that are dependent
upon a stronger power. The Soviet satellite nations were Bulgaria,
Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and East Germany.
Slide 19
What about Berlin? During the Cold war, there were many hot
spots. The earliest hot spot was Berlin. At the end of World War
II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones (American,
British, French, and Soviet). The Soviets controlled the eastern
part of Germany, the western countries controlled the western part
of Germany. The capital Berlin, deep within Soviet-controlled
territory, was also divided into four occupation zones.
Slide 20
Slide 21
Divided Berlin 1948 Britain, France, and America unite their
occupation zones to promote peace and German recovery. Germany was
a traditional enemy of the Soviet Union. The Soviets were against
any plan to make their enemy stronger. How did the Soviets
react?
Slide 22
Berlin Blockaded! In June 1948, the Soviets blockaded all land
and water traffic into western Berlin hoping to make Britain,
France, and America leave the city. (Remember Berlin was in East
Germany which the USSR occupied.) In response, the United States
and Great Britain began an airlift.
Slide 23
Berlin Airlift Whats an airlift? a system of carrying supplies
into West Berlin by plane Day and night, British and American
pilots flew in tons of food, fuel, and raw materials. How long did
it last? 11 months The airlift is over. Now what? Germany
officially becomes two countries with two governments. Bonn becomes
the capital of West Germany. East Berlin becomes the capital of
East Germany. West Berlin remains a democratic stronghold,
surrounded by communism.
Slide 24
East Germany West Germany
Slide 25
The Berlin Wall Kennedy - I am a Berliner - Ich Bin Ein
Berliner Kennedy - I am a Berliner - Ich Bin Ein Berliner Berliners
didnt like living under communism. Luckily, West Berlin and freedom
were just across the street! About 3 million people fled to West
Berlin looking for political freedom and better lives. The East
German government wanted it to stop. In August 1961, East Germany
built a 103 mile wall between East and West Berlin. Guarded by
Soviet troops, it became a symbol of the split between western and
eastern Europe. Many East Germans continued to risk death by
escaping over the wall.